Open Journal Systems

Poor Women’s Empowerment and the Challenges Ahead for the Arab World

Nancy Okail

Abstract

Increasingly, gender equality is identified as one of the most crucial elements for the overall development of any country. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) placed the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women at the top of the development priorities. At the same time, the Arab Human Development Report (2003) sets "gender inequality" as one of the three most significant deficiencies behind the regression of our region.